Paper-making machine



March 13, l1928 1,662,226 G. s. WHTHAM, .JR

PAPER MAKNG MACHINE Filed May 24.. .1926

'MaX/Wupatented Mai'. 13, 1928.

jNITED STATES y y 1,662,226 PATE-NST oEFicE.

GEORGE s. WITHAM in., or Bonson FALLS, NEW Yom;

I PAPER-MAKING MACHINE.

Application led May 24, 1926. vSerial 17o/111,401.

This invention relates to paper making machines, and more particularly to the Wet Vend of a paper-making machine including the head box, slices, etc., or that end Where the liquid stock is delivered to the Web-forming or Fourdrinier Wire part of the machine;-

It has heretofore been proposed to prostructions such as'above referred to,l howI ever, have certain defects and disadvantages in that the high pond and the high sectional slice involve additional expense in their installation, necessitate the useIl of showers at the pond, and produce a tendency tovvard cross currents of the liquid stock and bulking of the .stock onthe Web-forming orliourdrinier Wire part Iof the machine.

The principal objects of-this invention are to provide a construction for the Wet end of a paper making machine, which eliminates the defects and disadvantagesab'ove referred to; which avoids formation of cross currents inthe liquid stock yby the employment of adjustable gates or baflles in the head boxfor controlling thelow of stock therethrough; which utilizes a pond or quiet storage space in the head box to maintain the desired head of stock for high speeds of the Wire; which automatically removes any foam or froth formed in the head box before said foam can reach the Wire to cause breaks or the like in the sheet; which insures an eicient delivery of the liquid stock to the wire, through the medium of a nozzle and slice constructed as a unit and adjustably mounted o n the front of the head box; which affords an apron board forming the bottom Wall ofthe nozzle and adjustable vertically in accordance with like adjustments of the nozzle; which, through the medium of a one-piece slice and hydraulic means on the nozzle, avoids bulking of the stock on the Wire; and which `is an ecient, expeditious, and inexpensive construction for the Wet end of a paper making machine.

.In order the more clearly to understand this invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawing which illustrates one embodiment of the linventive idea and Wherein- Fig. l is a longitudinal .sectional view showing one embodiment of the invention installed With-a Fourdrinier paper'making machine; and

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectionalA vien1 on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, wherein like reference numerals designate `like parts throughoutthe several views, 5 indicates a head box and 6 the Web-forming or Fourdrinier Wire part of the machine receiving the liquid stock from the head box. The Wire 6 passes over the usual breast roll 7 and manner forwardlyA of the head box 5. The head box has a 'rear Wall 8, front Wall 9, side Walls 10, 10 and bottoml wall 11, and the front Wall 9-is provided with an opening 12 through which the liquid stock is delivered to the Wire 6.

lnaccordance with the present invention,

partrnents` is kcontrolled by adjustable gates or bafiles to prevent the formation of cross currents and bulking of the stock on the vWeb-,forming part of the machine. The communicating compartments'and the adjustable baflies may be constructed-in any suitable manner,` but as herein shown the head box is preferably provided With a plurality of baiies 13, 14 and 15 which extend transverselyof the head box across the entire Width thereof and divide said head box-into a plurality of communicating compartments 16, 17,18 and 19. The liquid stock is delivered into the head box by the usual screens (not shown) kand the adjustable baffles forcontrolling the flow of liquid stock through the compartinentsl, 17, 18 and-19, are indicated at `20 and 21.,

The adjustable gates or baffles 20 and 21 extend across the openings 22 and 23 be tween the compartments 16 and 17 and 18 and 19 respectively, and said bales are sup.

'said Wire and roll are mounted in the usual 75 ported on rock shafts 24 and 25 journalled at 26 and 27 on the head box and each provided with a hand crank 28 or other suitable means for moving the baiiles in either direc tion to vary the size of the openings' 22 and 23 and control the flow of liquid stock therethrough. For. supporting the baflies 20 and 2l on the rock shafts 24 and 25, the latter `are preferably provided with crank arms 29 and30 carrying at their free ends rods 31 and 32, the lower ends of which are riveted or otherwise suitably secured at 33 and 34 to the bafflesr 2O and 21. The upper ends of the rods 31 and 32 are threaded at 35 and 3G and extend freely through suitable openings v in cross ieces 37 and 3 8 pivotally mounted at 39 an 40 on the free ends of the cranks' eliminate dead corners in the several comoisA partments of the head box and, in accordance with the present invention, the head box is provided with a compartment serving as a. quiet storage space at the front of the head box to maintain the desired head of pressure of the stock for high speeds of the wire. This storage space is preferably constituted by the compartment 19, the walls 0f which extend upwardly to the top of the head box so that the level of the liquid stock in said compartment may be maintained at a considerable height above the wire 6. The compartment 19 thus serves to maintain the desired head of stoel; above the wire, particularly for high speeds thereof, and together with a nozzle and slice to be hereinafter de scribed, avoids the necessity for ahigh pond and high slices` forwardly of the head box. The compartment 19 is preferably provided at the top thereof with means for removing any foam or froth formed in the head box from the surface of the liquid stock in said compartment. This foam removing means is preferably comprised by a header 45 extending transversely across the compartment 19 over the liquid stock therein and provided with a plurality of branches, one of which is indicated at 46. The header 45 is supplied with white or fresh water under pressure from any suitable source andthe branches of said header are each provided therein with openings located so as to direct sprays of water therethrough intothe compartment at an angle, thus removing any foam or froth on the surface of the liquid stock toward the rear of the machine.

The foam or froth removed rearwardly by the sprays is directed over a float or skimming plate 47 disposed adjacent an opening 48, through which the foam or froth passes to any suitable means for collecting and carrying olf the same. The openlng 48 is prefere ly located in the heed box wall 10 at the rear of the machine and the skimming plate 47 is mounted for vertical adjustment adjacent said opening, whereby the ioat or skimming plate ma be positioned on the surface of the liqui stock regardless of the level thereof in the compartment 19. Any suitable means maybe provided for adjusting the skimming platel vertically but as herein shown, said means preferably comprises a rod` 49, the lower end of which is anchored on the skimming plate in any desired manner. The upper end of said rod is threaded at 50 and extends freely throu Th a suitable opening in a plate 51 fastene on the upper edge of the head box over the opening 48. A nut 52threaded on the upper end of the rod 49, rotatably engages the upper surface of the plate 51 and serves, when rotated, to raise or lower the float or skimming plate 47 in accordance with the direction of rotation of said nut. In order to prevent overfiow of the liquid stock through the opening 4B when the level of the stock is to be maintained above the bottom of said opening, the skimming plate has secured thereto a gate 53 which is slidably mounted on the wall of the compartment 19 in guides 54, 54 disposed adjacent the side margins of the opening 48. It will'thus appear that the level of the liquid stock may be changed in the compartment to vary the head above the wire (i and that any desired level of the stock above the bottom of the opening can be maintained by vertical adjustment of the gate and skimming plate through the medium of the rodA 49 and nut 52. For the purpose of dif- `fusing the liquid stock and delivering the same at all angles to the wire G, a perforated board 55 is provided. `Said board is preferably disposed at an angle acrossthe openine l2 ot' the head box and removably mounte in guides 56, 56 secured to the head box walls lt), 1U adjacent the ends of the opening 12.

In accordance with the present invention the liquid stock flows from the head box storage space to the eb-forming part of the machine through a structure mounted for vertical adjustment on the front of the head tlf) box, and said structure comprises a nozzle and apron board formed as a unit, a onepiece slice for n'iaintaiuing uniformity of thickness across the entire width ot' the sheet, devices for adjusting the slice, and hydraulic means for levellingr the sheet and reducing the worh of the slice. The unitary structure above referred to may be eon- `structed in any suitable manner but as herein shown the nozzle of said structure is provided by side walls 57, 57.Y a top wall im inclined downwardly and forwardtiv from the head box, and a bottom wall 59 wbeh forms the apron over which the liquid stoel: is delivered from the storage space 19 to wire G. The walls 58 and 59 of the nozzle have secured or formed thereon gates or vertical apron portions 60 and `61 respectively, which are slidably engaged iny guides 62, 62 secured to the front wall of the headopening, to provide communication between the nozzle and the head b'ox whenfthe nozzle .is adjusted vertically, and the gates or apron portions 60 and 61 thus serve to confine the flow of stock from the head box through the nozzle in the variousadjusted positions ofthe latter. The nozzle is preferably reinforced by brackets 63, 63 disposed under the apron board 59, and for the purpose of supporting the nozzle and adjustingthe same vertically in accordance with like adjustment of the wire` 6, the brackets G3, 63 are provided with screws 64, 64 or other desired fastening means extending through suitable openings in the brackets 4and gate 6l and removably secured in the. front Walt-9j of the head box. A Y

The one-piece slice carried by the adjustable nozzle, is indicated at 65 and said slice is slidably guided o ver the discharge open-` ing of the nozzle in guides 66, 66 on each of the nozzle walls 47, 47. Mounted on each end of the slice is a stationary nut or threaded boss 67, and hand screws threaded through each-nut or boss and rotatably en' gaging the upper surfaces of the ymachine top rails 67 67 serve toraise or lower the slice. One of these hand screws is indicated at 68 and each of the same is provided with a hand wheel 69 for rotating the screw in either direction to. raisev or lower the slice and thus regulate the flow of stock from the nozzle to the wire 6. This one-piece sliceavoids bulking of the sheet occurring when sectional slices are employed and thus insuresthat the stock on the wire Gwill be of uniform thickness across theV entire width thereof. Each of the slice hand screwslis providedv with a pointer 70 which, when the slice is stationary or being adjusted,cooperates with a scale 71 mounted on the adjacent nozzlewall A17 and serves to indicate accurately and quickly the size of thev discharge opening of the nozzle. A secondary onepiece slice 72 may be provided, if so desired, and said slice is slidably mounted at each end in guides 73, 73 on the adjacent framework i 74 of the deckle equipment.

A pair of screws, one of which is indicated at 75, serve to adjust the slice 71 vertically and each of e said hand screws is threadedin a suitable l The slice 72 is provided at each end with acomprises a header 79 extending transversely of the machine over thenozzle and connected Vwith a pipe 80 leading from any suitable Isource of white or`fresh water underpressure. The header 77 is provided at spaced intervals along the same with branch pipes 81, 81 which extend downwardly into the nozzle and are slidably fitted-in `openings 82, 82 formed inthe nozzle wall 58.' The header 79 is of sufficient diameter to obtain thel desired head of pressurefon the-water which may be delivered through the pipes 81,' 81 into the nozzle to dilute the liquid stock at any desired point orpoints therein. The-flow of water through the pipes 8l, 81 is controlled by'valves 83, 83, one infeach pipe, and if, for example, it is found upon adjustment of the slice or slices, that the stock is running a little heavy at any point or points acrossthe width of the wire, one

-or more of the valves 83, 83 in line withfsaidv point or points may be opened/so that water liowin'g through the corresponding pipe or plpes 83, 83 into the nozzle willdilute the liquid stock, thusilevelling'the same on the wirej G and assisting the slice to maintain a sheet of uniform thickness across the entire width off thezwire;

It will appear from the foregoing that by the present invention thenecessity for a high pond and a high slice or slices forwardly'of the head box is avoided, and that through the medium of the adjustable baffles 20, 21 and the high storage space y19 in the head box, the flow of liquid. stock is -controlled as desired and the head of stock maintained atrthe proper height for high speeds of the lweb-forming or- F ourdrinier wire'part 6 of the machine. Moreover, the one-piece adjustable slice or slices and the hydraulic levelling means serve to produce a sheet of uniform thickness across the entire width thereof and-the mounting of the nozzle and'devices carried thereby provides a unitary struct-ure which can be adjusted verf;A

tically as desired without having to disconnect and disassemble the parts. The accompanying drawing illustrates the embodiment of this invention described above with more or less particularity but it is to be expressly understood that the drawing is for purposes of illustration only and that this invention may be embodied in a variety of mechanical expressions within the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. In a paper-making machine, the combination with the Web-forming part, of a head-box for the liquid stock and having an opening in the lfront wall thereof, a nozzle apron and slice adjustably mounted as a unit on said Wall over the opening therein,`

7 ranged as a unit adjacent the opening and adjustably supported on the head-box.

In a paper-making machine, the combination` with the lweb-forming part, of a 'head-box for the liquid Stock extending above the web-forn'ling part and having au opening substantially alined therewith, and a nozzle, apron, and one-piece slice arranged as a unit and adjustably mounted on the head-box adjacent said opening an'd the web-forming part.

4. In a paper-making machine, the combination with the web-forn'iing part, of a head-box for the liquid stock having an opening substantially alined with the webforming part, a nozzle adjustably mounted on the head-box over said opening and adapted to deliver the liquid stockto said web-forming part, and a one-piece slice mounted on the nozzle for adjustment Vacross the delivering opening thereof.

5,'In a paper-making machine, the combination with the web-forming part, of a headboit for the liquid stock provided with an opening substantially alined with the webforming part, a nozzle Yfor delivering liquid stock from the head-box to the web-forming part through the opening and having an area less than that of the opening, guide means on the head-box ad'acent the opening, and means on the nozze supporting the same on the guide means and adapted to close part of said opening.

(l. In a paper-making machine, a headbox provided in the front wall thereof with an opening, and a nozzle, apron, and slice constructed as a unit and adjustably mounted on the head-box adjacent said opening.

7. In a paper-making machine, a headbox provided inthe front wall thereof with an opening, a nozzle conununicating with the head-box through said opening and having a bottom wall forming an apron board,

and means providing an adjustable mounting. for the nozzle and apron board on the head-bom i 8. In a paper-making machine, a headbox provided in its frontl wall with on opening, a nozzle communicating with the headbox through said opening and having a bottom wall forming an apron board, a onepicce slice mounted on the nozzle for adjustment across its delivery opening, and means providing an adjustable mounting for the nozzle on the head-box.

9. In a paper-making machine, a headbox provided in its front wall with an open ing, guide means, adjacent the margin of said opening, and a nozzle, apron, and an adjustable one-piece slice constructed as a unit slidably mounted on the guide means over said opening.

10. In a paper-making machine, a headbox .provided in its front wall with an opening, guides on the head-box adjacent opposite ends of the opening, a nozzle communieating with the head-box through the opening and having a bottom wall portion forming an apron board, and gates or aprons on the nozz e engaging said guides and adjustably .secured on the front wall of the headbox.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

GEORGE S. VVITHAM, Jn. 

